How to Choose Car Paint Colors

Match custom paint jobs to your car. It is quite expensive to paint a whole car, and usually not worth it for an everyday driver. Most whole body paint jobs are the result of some kind of special customization or restore. With this in mind, you want to know a little bit about the car you intend to paint and make sure that you choose a color scheme that suits your car. often this means sticking with a vintage color ― something that might have been on the car when it was new. Other times, it means a color scheme that brings out the best features of the car, even if that color scheme was never an original from the manufacturer.

• An example of a paint job that isn’t likely to flow would be restoring a ‘69 Chevelle, having a supercharger sticking up out of the hood, and painting it pink with purple polka dots.

Use your imagination. The great thing about restoring or customizing a car is the opportunity to truly have whatever you want. The end result should be something you are proud of, so naturally it has to be something that you like. Envision exactly what you want your car to look like.

Consult a professional painter about your paint job. Whether you know what you want or not, an open dialogue with the painter is never a bad idea. They can help steer you toward the paints that will give you the look your heart desires. A professional artist/painter can also help to expand on your ideas if you get stuck at any point.

Know where to get the color you want. Paint basically falls into two very large categories. Factory paint is paint that comes standard on a particular model from the manufacturer. Custom paint is also just what it sounds like ― paint tailored specifically to your taste that is not available from the manufacturer.^[6]

Know what look you want. Three common paint options are solid colors, metallic colors, and pearl colors. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, solid colors can be cheaper and easier to apply evenly, but often look more plain. Metallic colors can be a bit more exciting, as they satisfy our lust for shiny things in a society fixated on technology, but light metallic colors can be quite difficult to apply. Pearls give a depth of color that solids nor metallics can match, but do not hide inconsistencies in the color very well.^[7]

Consider less common paint options. Two options that are seen on custom vehicles, but rarely on factory cars are candy color and chameleon paint. This is partly because candy colors are less durable than more common paints, and chameleon paints are quite difficult to apply evenly. That being said, candy colors are known for their superior depth of color (even compared to peal), and chameleon paints stand out in any crowd since the color changes depending on the viewer’s vantage point.^[8]